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Even if you’re not obsessed with Mid-Century Modern furniture, chances are you know what it is. A style popularized in the 1940s and 60s, the Mid-Century Modern design movement was born out of the romantic idea that “good design could change lives.” It was a style that was all about functionality, accessibility, and modern simplicity.

Still an incredibly popular style today, the Mid-Century Modern look is great for anyone living in a smaller space; who likes a clean, modern aesthetic; or if you just want to embrace that Mad Men look in your home. And while this is a style that you can bring to life in any room, today we’re offering up some tips for designing a Mid-Century Modern bedroom.

Want to see your exact room designed in a Mid-Century Modern style? Start a Modsy design project and our designers will show you how real furniture and decor will look in your exact room. Click here to get started.

Keep scrolling for some of our favorite Mid-Century Modern bedroom ideas!

Tapered Legs

Not sure how to spot Mid-Century Modern furniture in a lineup? Check out the legs.

Round and slender, the tapered leg is a signature of Mid-Century Modern furniture. Distinctive and sleek, these legs give the sense that your furniture is floating. This is great for small spaces, as it won’t clutter up the visual plane, and helps your room look more open and airy.

If you’re looking for Mid Century Modern bedroom ideas, a dresser, nightstand, or bed frame atop tapered legs is the perfect place to start.

Natural Woods

The 60s, in particular, were all about going natural, and the furniture of this period reflected that philosophy. Natural and unstained woods are a huge part of Mid-Century Modern design, so look for pieces that aren’t painted and unafraid to show off their grain.

Organic Forms

Curved lines, rounded shapes and asymmetry, were another defining trait of Mid-Century Modern design. Designers embraced curved, clean, and sculptural forms that evoked the natural world and even the human body.

One of our favorite Mid-Century Modern bedroom ideas, bring organic forms to your space through lamps, chairs, and artwork that are sleek and free of frilly ornamentation.

Graphic Patterns

Hand-in-hand with organic forms, geometric shapes and patterns were just as important to the designers of the Mid-Century Modern era. Nothing spelled groovy more than graphic patterns – imagine wild curves, boomerangs, kidneys, and spiky starbursts.

For your bedroom, don’t be afraid to experiment with pattern. Invite geometry into your space through your art, pillows, or even wallpaper.

Mix Materials

The mid-century was all about shattering norms. No one wanted their mother’s matching bedroom set anymore. Designers were embracing new materials like plywood, metal, glass, and even molded plastics. These materials were often mixed together and juxtaposed in the same room or even same piece of furniture.

Mixing materials and even different kinds of furniture are great Mid-Century Modern bedroom ideas. Incorporate pieces made of wood, metal, leather and even fabrics that appeal to you. Don’t be afraid to use pieces in creative ways, like a chair as a nightstand, or a bench as an accent table.

Earth Tones and Primary Colors

When bringing Mid-Century Modern bedroom ideas to life, be sure to play with color. If you want a more authentic take on a Mid-Century bedroom, skip the pastels or jewel tones. Instead, embrace the colors of choice of the Mid-Century era.

Mid-Century designers loved earth tones like brown, rust, and green combined with the primary colors of red, blue, and yellow. Play with these hues in your accents (like pillows and art) or even invite them in bolder ways (like wall color or a statement rug).

Retro-inspired Accents

Create your special Mid-Century Modern signature by infusing retro-inspired accents into your space. It isn’t difficult to find contemporary pieces with a Mid-Century edge, items like a Sputnik chandelier or an Eames-style side chair are sure to do the trick.

Ready to see Mid-Century Modern Bedroom Ideas in your exact space?

These Mid-Century Modern bedroom ideas are fun, stylish and practical. If you’re excited to bring these ideas to life, but aren’t sure where to start, sign up for a Modsy design package to get a designer’s help curating and styling your exact room in 3D.

Where in the world are you dreaming about traveling? France, Iceland, Morocco, Portugal or Sweden? While a life-changing, intercontinental move may be out of reach, we’re always up for clever ways to bring the vacation vibes to us.

While daydreaming about some travel hot-spots, we decided to try and recreate the look and feel of each city in our own apartments, without setting foot on a plane.

From the minimal but cozy feel of Iceland, to Portugal’s oceanic color palette and tile work, we created 5 different design styles, based on 5 beautiful cities and tips for anyone who wants to achieve the look.

The City: Cascais, Portugal

The Style: Rustic Traveler

Cascais is a beautiful coastal resort town west of Lisbon, which is known for its historic landmarks and gorgeous beaches. We designed this room around a color palette that reflects the ocean and Cascais’ sunny weather. True to the Modsy Rustic Traveler style, the room is full of pieces that feel special and collected, maybe even passed down for generations.

How to get the style

Start by layering lots of patterns in sunny yellows and bright blues. Next, look to natural materials, which bring this style to life. Note how the rattan chairs and daybed add texture, especially when paired with soothing pops of color.

Don’t be afraid to mix up textures – this look is about a casual mix of eclectic pieces. Warm leather tones blend beautifully with rich velvets. You can even take decor inspiration from the sea by using collected seashells and ocean themed art.

Must-have pieces

The Avalon Daybed from Serena & Lily is very special piece – a perfect place for napping in the warm sun. You can dream about a trip to Portugal, even if you live far from it. We also love the Ikat Ottoman from Wisteria. It adds vibrancy and comfort to the space, while the colors evoke the palette of gorgeous Portuguese tile work.

The City: Paris, France

The Style: Chic Collector

A city centered around fashion and the arts, Paris exudes a sense of luxury and glamour. We incorporated these chic elements into the space by pairing rich velvets with marble and brass finishes. A beautiful glass chandelier and statement art create a sense of opulence.

Who lives here? Probably a stylish curator, immersed in Parisian culture with a taste for the finer things. Someone who enjoys collecting interesting pieces over time, inspired by their love for design.

How to get the style

The key to recreating this look is layering colors, patterns and textures. Royal blue and teal are offset by lighter pastels and colorfully patterned rugs. Look for white marble pieces that are balanced with brass finishes to bring warmth to the space.

Velvet and tasseled decorative accent pillows introduce an eclectic, curated feel to the space, rendering it more personal and vibrant.

The City: Stockholm, Sweden

The Style: Mod Enthusiast

Calling all Mid Century Modern aficionados! We know your love of Scandinavian design will pull you right into our Stockholm apartment.

This design is for a person who lives a minimalist lifestyle and is drawn toward spaces that feel open and completely functional.

We’ve left most of the flooring bare to highlight the beautiful detail of this particular studio apartment. Color has been added in very specific pops – giving a nod to the fact that this person is most likely a curator of their own home and is precise with every detail.

How to get the style

Start with a neutral base color palette with pieces such as a neutral sofa and rug. Then, bring in a statement Mid-Century form chair and sculptural coffee table to create a bit of intrigue.

Must have pieces

The Noguchi Coffee Table is a real winner in this space. It helps to anchor the room, providing a true Mid Century statement to set the tone. A close second is the pierre-jeanneret chair which is paired with its matching desk for a great work station just off of the living area.

The City: Marrakesh, Morocco

The Style: Mod Collector

This Moroccan inspired studio is all about texture. The rug exudes warmth with its comfortable, soft texture. We’ve paired it with a informal seating area of poufs and floor pillows.

Morocco brings elements of casual comfort into the interior space so you’ll see less formal seating and dining areas and instead more comfort-forward pieces such as plush pillows and throws. We’ve also brought in a daybed to function both as a sofa and main sleeping area.

How to get the style

Creating this look in your own home is easy and fun! Pick a corner and transform it into a comfortable reading nook with floor pillows, drop pendant lights, and plenty of candles and cozy pillows and blankets. Use a tray instead of a formal table for your cup of tea.

Oh, and have tons of fun with color! This style is about mixing different colors, patterns, and textures together with ease.

Must have pieces

The Diamondback Rug is one of our favorites. Its handmade and so beautiful. It pairs with this style well because of its pattern and texture, however can really work across different style preferences if you decide Morocco is no longer your city style.

The Carved Wood Media Console is a statement that has a carved detailing on its doors. The wood stain adds a touch of warmth to the space without feeling too heavy.

The City: Reykjavik, Iceland

The Style: Modern Rustic

Reykjavik is a design lover’s delight, packed with edgy, modern aesthetics and functional, cozy elements to withstand the harsh climate. The city’s interiors often feel like retreats from the intense weather.

You won’t see massive homes with wasted space here, instead you find smaller, functional layouts that are shared by young couples or even a small family. This design is perfect for lovers of Modsy’s Modern Rustic style where minimalism is key, and lighter pieces get dressed up in rustic finishes and textures.

How to get the style

This style is all about a balanced, moody color palette and cozy textures like leather, sheepskin, and wicker. We pulled inspiration from the North Atlantic ocean, glacier lagoons, volcanic rock formations and black-sand beaches for this city space. A surprise element like copper or brass adds a modern touch.

Choose foundational pieces that are more on the minimalist side, which you’ll see in the shape of the sofa, but opt for a slipcover, which creates a clean yet homey aesthetic.

A good amount of decor like candles, baskets, pillows, and unique lighting adds warmth. Bring the beautiful elements of the outdoors inside and dress them up with the coziest blanket you have.

Must have pieces

We love the Cedeno Wood Entry Way Bench from Birch Lane. It offers additional seating when entertaining but it doesn’t feel heavy or take up a lot of space. It has the charm and warmth of a rustic piece with all of the conveniences of minimalism!

The Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland Print from Crate & Barrel is an ode to the natural wonders of the country. The soft blues and greens add some color amongst the black and white palette. The Blaire Antique Brass Desk Lamp, also from Crate & Barrel is a fun piece that almost mimics a candelabra, a perfect example of traditional and modern meeting in the middle.

See how first-time homeowner, Alan C, designs a basement and TV room that’s perfect for his family.

Homeowner: Alan C, Director of Marketing

Location: Portland, OR

Room: Awkward basement and TV room

His Style: Mod Enthusiast

The Backstory

Wanting to make sure everything is right for his family’s first true home

This is our family’s first home that isn’t a temporary living situation. We intend to live in this house for many years so we wanted to design it to feel like home and put some effort and money into doing it right.

So of course we wanted the home to look good while being extremely functional, specifically when it came to our basement. This is the room we use for watching sports and reality TV, playing video games, and having people over for Game of Thrones nights.

Alan’s Basement Before

The Design Dilemma

Working with an awkwardly spacious basement that’s also a gathering space

Our basement space is a bit awkward because the door into the room and fireplace are directly across from each other. The room is split right in two: a front and back area. Also, the couches we had in there were from my parents and nearly 28 years old, so we were ready for a whole new look.

It was a big challenge to figure out what furniture to get and how to arrange it so that there wasn’t dead or awkward space. We ultimately needed help solidifying a design style for the room and finding a layout that worked.

The Modsy Moment

An unexpected discovery that left a strong first impression

I first saw Modsy on Product Hunt. I was very impressed with how real and life-like the mockups looked, so I bookmarked it to come back to later.

Once I got started, I found Modsy very easy to use. The hardest part was picking items for our mood board because my wife and I generally have different tastes. We ended up with a system where I added items to the board then she would give me the final approval.

Alan’s Modsy Design 1

How Modsy’s Renderings Helped Alan

Trial by design – and learning what he and his family truly needed for their basement

My family and I were very impressed when we got our first two Modsy design plans back. We never thought our basement could look that good. Modsy showed us a couple different ways to arrange the room that we hadn’t thought of before.

With the first design, it gave us the idea that not all seating has to face the TV. We debated this design a lot and, although we ended up not going with that configuration, it did make us rethink our preconceived notions about the space. And with the second design plan, we found an alternate place to put the TV, but it still didn’t solve the problem of the room feeling cut in half.

Alan’s Modsy Design 2

The biggest “aha” moment for us was the idea for putting a sideboard and round mirror on the back wall. I had never considered that idea and as soon as I saw that in the designs, I loved it. The back wall was such a big and daunting space, and the sideboard and mirror perfectly fit our Mid-Century Modern style while filling up the space in a practical way.

Alan’s Modsy Design 1

After giving our initial two design a bit of thought, we asked our Modsy designer to create a third. We wanted this next one to be based on our first design (which was our favorite so far) but with a few tweaks.

It’s no surprise then that this last design became our favorite. It had the most functionality and made the best use of our space.

Alan’s Modsy Design 3

We ended up setting up the basement like design #3. But we decided to put a small couch on the side wall instead of separate chairs.

The most helpful part of Modsy was visualizing the space. I was able to see the differences in height and depth of different objects, and know how they would all fit together.

The greatest takeaway? Basements don’t have to bland, they can be sexy.

Stephanie and her family moved into their new space, but finding the right pieces to furnish it was a challenge. See how she brought her style to life and made her new house into a home.

Homeowner: Stephanie L, military mom

Room: Open concept living/dining space

Her Style: Mod Enthusiast

The Backstory

11 years and 11 places later, finally finding a place to call home

Between my husband and I, we have moved 11 times in 11 years for both of our military careers. After a string of apartments, we had recently moved into a “forever” home – a newly constructed suburban house that we personalized to fit our family for many years to come.

I specifically wanted to furnish and decorate a great, multi-functioning living room. It’s the central space in our home, so it had to be a place where we felt relaxed and comfortable. We have a two-year-old son, so the space needed to be practical in addition to having a cohesive flow since it’s an open concept living/dining/kitchen space.

The Design Dilemma

Stuck on finding furniture that ties together three different spaces

I had made several Pinterest boards, but still didn’t know where to begin with our open concept living/dining/kitchen area. We were ready to invest in quality furniture that wouldn’t just be “making do” until we inevitably moved again, but I was struggling with finding the right pieces and accessories to tie the spaces together.

I wanted the space to feel intentional and purposeful, but my previous furniture was a mashup of college furniture, pieces left over from previous moves, and a handful of items that were too large or too small for our new house.

At one point, I had thought about hiring an interior designer to come to our house, but I was apprehensive about the cost.

The Modsy Moment

Trusting her favorite blogger’s recommendation

I first learned about Modsy from one of my favorite bloggers whom I’ve been following for years – Kate Bryan from The Small Things Blog. It was by pure coincidence that I came across her mentioning using Modsy for her home office, and I knew I had to check it out.

Modsy was super easy to use. So easy, in fact, I was worried I might’ve done something wrong, measured wrong, or taken low-quality pictures.

I ended up taking the Style Quiz five times! I’ve never labeled my style before and often have a difficult time articulating what it is – I can tell if I like something or not, but I can’t say specifically what it is that draws me to a certain look or feel. So I was skeptical in the beginning about the results of the quiz, but that didn’t last long.

Stephanie’s Modsy Design 1

How Modsy’s Renderings Helped Stephanie

Getting not only the right furniture, but furniture that perfectly matched her style

When I saw my Modsy design plans, I was absolutely blown away by how accurately my style was reflected. I knew the quiz must have been correct because I was so in love with everything. It was so neat to see our how our house looked decorated, but better! It really helped me visualize my exact space and its full potential.

I loved how the design incorporated our existing furniture without compromising my personal style.I had already purchased a sofa and a media console before I learned about Modsy, and I loved those pieces so I was glad that Modsy was able to incorporate them into my design plans.

Stephanie’s Modsy Design 1

The first design was my immediate choice. It had a very neutral color palette of whites, greys, and browns with a few accessories to complete the design, which I felt would be timeless. I would’ve never thought to add a console table in our dining area, but it worked perfectly and added some storage too.

The only thing I wanted to change were the dining chairs. I asked Modsy for a more kid-friendly option, and they were able to swap in the same chairs with a different fabric option.

Stephanie’s Modsy Design 1

I was also in love with the leather chairs in the living room—I never would’ve thought to put chairs in those spots, but it worked perfectly to add more seating and completed the space. It goes without saying that since then I’ve purchased all of the furniture in the designs.

New year, new you, right? After a pretty rough 2017 – AKA the worst year ever – we hope we’re not the only ones resolving to take a little better care of ourselves in 2018.

And what better way than to finally turn your bedroom into that comfy, post-work day haven you’ve always dreamed about? The problem is, pulling together a bedroom that suits your style and gives you those cozy, self care-infused vibes, isn’t always a piece of cake.

The Look: Discerning Collector

Why We Love It:

Maybe the new year inspired you to to become a minimalist, but you just can’t shake your love of boho spaces. We’d like to introduce you to the Discerning Collector style.

A clean and minimal style that let’s it’s eclectic touches shine, this look is about pared-down forms with just a few bold accent pieces mixed in.

How to Bring This Style Home:

Contrast is key when it comes to creating the Discerning Collector look. Choose a handful of sleek modern pieces like a mid-century bed frame or industrial wood desk, and offset them with some unique gems that bring a little personality and drama.

Keep the color scheme neutral while you pile on the patterns and textures. This will inspire a minimal look that still shows off its boho touches.

Take a 360 spin through the Discerning Collector look

The Look: Mod Enthusiast

Why We Love It:

An approach to contemporary design lets you enjoy the look of modern interiors without fully committing to living in them. Here, comfort and style add up for a look that’s both trendy and inviting.

How to Bring This Style Home:

Look for furniture with streamlined forms with a mid-century influence. The Mod Enthusiast style flaunts tapered legs, natural wood grains, and no-frills pieces, but never strays from being comfortable.

Take a 360 spin through the Mod Enthusiast look

The Look: Rustic Warmth

Why We Love It:

It doesn’t get cozier than this bedroom outfitted in our latest Rustic Warmth collection. It’s a look that takes a light and airy approach to rustic style, and mixes in just the right amount of cozy comforts. You’ll be so snuggly you’ll never want to leave.

How to Bring This Style Home:

The key to the Rustic Warmth look is to have a mix of contemporary furniture, rustic touches, and cozy accents. Furniture with clean-lines is your friend, along with antiques that show a little visible wear – we never saw a patina we didn’t like!

If you want a slightly more contemporary look, keep to natural woods in lighter shades. Earthy tones, and natural textures, such as woven baskets, rugs, and hides are also great.

Top it all off with a few layers of lush greenery!

Take a 360 spin through the Rustic Warmth look

The Look: Reclaimed Visionary

Why We Love It:

The ultimate power couple, strong lines with industrial materials-who-mean-business, give Reclaimed Visionary it’s refined boldness. If you’re someone who likes to blend warm and cool notes in your space, this might be the look for you.

How to Bring the Style Home:

Look for foundational pieces that are made with raw materials – metal bookcases, a robust wood bed frame and dresser, a few sculptural table lamps, and some leather accents. Embrace a spare look balanced by pieces with crisp lines and major presence.

Keep to a palette of black, brown, and gray for a more edgy and moody ambience.

Take a 360 spin through the Reclaimed Visionary look

The Look: Rustic Traveler

Why We Love It:

This eclectic-meets-rustic look appeals to your inner love of vintage pieces and doesn’t apologize for it’s boho vibes. Every piece has a story and they all work together to create a collected and personal space.

How to Bring This Style Home:

You’ll want to hunt down a few vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces and pair them with unique worldly accents. Pile on the patterns, colors, and plants, which are the shining stars of the Rustic Traveler style.

Let the stories behind each piece shine; it will in turn give your space a sense of richness and warmth.

Like so many others, Sheri wasn’t totally sold on the idea of online design services. But after trying to redesign her office for a year, she finally took a chance.

Homeowner: Sheri B, Project Manager

Location: Vilano Beach, FL

Room: Home office with a view

Her Style: Mod Enthusiast

The Backstory

Her office had lots of potential, but she needed to see how the space could work

Ihave a large room that I use as my office that has a lovely, open and expansive view onto the marsh where I live. Since it’s such a large room, I wanted to use the other half for something else. I wanted it to be functional, fun, and for it to have an airy quality that would allow me to enjoy the view.

The Design Dilemma

She had lots of ideas, but that wasn’t enough for her to believe they would work

I just couldn’t make up my mind about what I wanted to do with the space – I probably had 100 ideas floating through my head. At one point, I tried using a 3D app to design the room, but it looked so fake that I had no way of truly visualizing the end result.

The Modsy Moment

Deciding there was nothing to lose – after letting all her design ideas sit for a year

I first saw an ad for Modsy on my Facebook feed and it piqued my interest. I’ll admit I was skeptical as to whether this service could make a difference for me. I had been struggling with what to do with this space for over a year and I didn’t think a few drawings would help…

Sheri’s Modsy Design 1

How Modsy’s Renderings Helped Sheri

Clearly seeing the end result, finding furniture she loved, and feeling armed with a plan

When I got my initial designs back, I was very impressed with how real the renderings looked. Seeing the designs made it super easy to visualize how the furniture would look in my office.

Sheri’s Modsy Design 2

When I saw the initial two designs from Modsy, I felt like they nailed my style – I loved the clean, uncluttered lines and I liked the idea of placing a chair in the corner.

But what I really loved, was that Modsy gave me the ability to swap out different pieces furniture. I decided that, while I loved the layouts they suggested, I only just liked the furniture. Making changes on my own made all the difference.

Sheri’s Modsy Design 3

The initial renderings also inspired me to look more into mid-century modern pieces for my office. I liked a lot of the pieces Modsy suggested and – although I haven’t bought anything yet – will likely incorporate them into my final designs.

The renderings really helped me solidify what I’m looking for. And it was fun swapping out the loveseat and chairs so I could try different ideas in my space. There were no big surprises, but the ability to visualize how my room will look without all the current clutter has been the most helpful part.

There were elements of both the initial designs that I liked so I picked the best of each. I combined them into my third design, and that is how I plan on setting up my space. In fact, I’ve moved some pieces from around the house into my office to get used to the proportions of the new set-up.

The bedroom is one space we get many questions about here at Modsy. After all, it’s the most personal room in your home where you start and end your days, so it should be a space that’s not only stylish but one that also inspires rest for you.

And whether you’re in the process of rethinking your bedroom or looking to make some updates, there are some key pieces that can help set it apart as the ultimate soothing space.

Here, we break down for you just what these design elements are when it comes to building a calming bedroom.

1. Establish an Inviting Foundation

The bed is what everything else in the room will revolve around. Rather than going for one that’s conveniently sized or quick to ship, invest in a bed that’s just right for you and will set a cozy tone in your room.

A good starting point:An upholstered bed with light or neutral fabric will instantly give your bedroom a soft, inviting look. If an upholstered bed isn’t your thing, a simple frame or an open base is a great alternative — they tend to take up minimal space and have a way of making your room feeling airy as opposed to cluttered.

2. Create a Personal Spot

In the bedroom, your nightstand is your most personal space. It’s an area where you should let your style shine.

A good starting point: Choose a nightstand or side table that suits your needs. Want extra storage to hold your binge-reading material? Opt for one with drawers. Just want a place to set your alarm clock or a late-night cup of tea? A nightstand with a larger swath of surface area is the way to go. Add a pretty table lamp and hang a favorite photo or painting to make the space feel extra personal; it’s a great way to incorporate elements that soothe your senses.

3. Incorporate Light Wood Tones

Be it your nightstand or a dresser for all your clothes and blankets, lighter woods in the bedroom can keep the space feeling open and spacious.

A good starting point: We love the look of Mid-century pieces with their clean lines and tapered legs for bedside storage. If you have the space for it, a dresser that’s big enough to hold all your soft goods can also make for a simple and stylish display surface for small personal items. The key is to keep to a neutral and work with a light palette for your furnishings, bedding, and accents.

4. Fill Your Walls

Admittedly your bedroom walls can be difficult to outfit, especially when you want to maintain a calm atmosphere. But if you leave them empty, your room somehow feels incomplete.

A good starting point: The round mirror trend is a great option. Placing it above the bed to reflect more light into the room gives the space the illusion of being larger that it is.

Another option is to bring in an open bookshelf in place of a nightstand because it solves two big dilemmas: it can function just like a nightstand but takes up little space and doesn’t feel bulky; and it also extends vertically so it fills the walls but doesn’t overwhelm your room.

5. Inject a Bit of Color

While a completely white bedroom can feel incredibly cozy, a strategic approach to color can make for a bedroom that’s equally alluring and calming. A little color will also help to break up white walls and white bedding.

A good starting point: Pick a color and stick to shades of it when you’re picking your pillows, rug, accents, and art. This way your space will feel united by one continuous palette, and the color becomes your guide for everything that you decide to add to your room later on. Keeping to one hue will also minimize the visual frenzy, creating a clean overall look and feel.

This render features shades of blue, as this primary hue has a soothing and serene quality. Shades of green with white is another easy color combo to encourage a calming effect. Blue and green are both easy to work with as they recall the outdoors and nature.

Ready to redo your bedroom or still needing some guidance?
We can help!

Making the Move from City to Suburban Home

When her IKEA furniture no longer served her family and her new home, a New Yorker took matters into her own hands with Modsy.

The Backstory

Taking the Leap into Suburban Living

I bought a new home two years ago when we moved from the city to a more suburban area. My family and I were living in a modern high-rise apartment and our new home is a 1931 Tudor house that has been lovingly restored.

The Design Dilemma

Figuring Out Out-of-Place Furniture

Like most people, the IKEA furniture we had was good for apartment living, but it didn’t work in our new home.

For starters, we now had 3,000 square feet of space to fill and all of our furniture from the old apartment could fit in the living room in the new house. We were ready to invest in good furniture, but didn’t want to buy the wrong pieces and make a costly mistake.

Adding to that, our new house’s architecture is very formal, but we’re not formal people. It was hard to find furniture that both agreed with the interior of the home and our personalities—not to mention visualize it actually in our space! I was completely overwhelmed.

“I didn’t want to settle with a set of matching furniture but I was ready for the house just to be done.”

The Modsy Moment

Nothing Was Working—Not Even Hiring an Interior Designer

We had been in interior design paralysis for a year; after one year living in the house, I had 100 Pinterest boards and spent countless hours (days) curating them to no avail. So I finally decided to hire an interior designer to help move the design process along. I saw layout ideas, some furniture recommendations, and even bought two rugs, but I still had a hard time imagining these pieces arranged in my actual home.

I read about Modsy on People.com and decided to try it. I took some photos, filled out the Style Quiz, and picked out furniture recommended to me based on my style. A week later, I got the first 3D renderings of my living room back and I was blown away by how real they looked. It was awesome! Modsy allowed me to see designs staged in our actual space, and it made all the difference.

“We had been in interior design paralysis for a year… Modsy allowed me to see designs staged in our actual space, and it made all the difference.”

Living Room: Design 1

Living Room: Design 1

Living Room: Design 1

Living Room: Design 2

Living Room: Design 2

Living Room: Design 2

Dining Room: Design 1

Dining Room: Design 1

Dining Room: Design 1

Dining Room: Design 2

Dining Room: Design 2

Dining Room: Design 2

The Final Deciding Factors:

Adding those personal touches

After playing around with a few renderings, I came up with more ideas that I wanted to try. I have a three year-old daughter, who loves to climb on things, and Modsy helped me create a play area for her. I also had my eye on a statement sofa, but was unsure if it would work with my formal space. Finally, I was struggling to decide if I should hang curtains above my beautiful stained glass windows or not.

With the Modsy 3D rendering I could literally see these ideas come to life in my home. This gave me the confidence to buy pieces I will love. Now there are a few more things I need to get my husband to agree on, which, for the first time might be easy since he can see how amazing they would look.

Now I use the hours I spent curating Pinterest boards to do things I actually enjoy, like spending time with my family, cooking, and traveling. I am thankful to Modsy for helping me pull the trigger and get on with my life.

With Modsy I tried on a statement sofa and found the perfect chairs to match.

I was able to create a play area for my active three year-old. The best part, it's not a total eye-sore!

Need a little design help? Try a Modsy rendering for yourself!

https://blog.modsy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Artboard-5-Copy-2.png10801200Rachael Tellermanhttps://blog.modsy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/render-logo.pngRachael Tellerman2017-06-16 17:48:422019-03-13 02:05:40My Modsy Story: Making the Move from City to Suburban Home

And Why We Think $6,000 is Reasonable

A little bit modern, a little bit eclectic. That’s the vibe we are channeling in this fresh and airy little living room number. A palette of blues and neutrals gives the space a fresh and calming vibe, while the playful patterns in the rug and artwork keep it feeling contemporary. But there’s more to designing a living room than style. We’ll set the scene: You discover Modsy and are so excited to start your home design journey. Finally, a headache-free way to try before you buy – go ahead, cut the tags off! You sign up, take the Style Quiz, and answer all the fun questions about your dream living room. And then comes the question about budget… Oh futon.

Mom always said, there’s no such thing as a free lunch, or a free sofa, or a free sofa to eat your lunch on (but really, shouldn’t you be eating at the dining table?). And while saving for a new car or a beach vacation is probably somewhere on your to-do list, we are betting you didn’t budget a whole lot to furnish your living room.

We are just going to come out and say it: buying furniture is expensive. You can’t go around it, you can’t go over it, you have to go through it and pay the extra taxes + shipping + handling. So rather than turning “budget” into a dirty word, we think it’s important to educate our users, and everyone else looking to design their home, about what it really costs to furnish a living room.

Brace yourself: the average cost to furnish a living room from the scratch is around $10,000+. If this is giving you major sticker shock, don’t worry you are not alone! It’s not our fault we’ve been lied to by all the beautiful pins and DIY trickery. You know those photos of gorgeous living rooms inside the glossy pages of Architectural Digest or Elle Decor that make your eyeballs drool? We all want our homes to look like that, but we don’t want to spend our kids’ college tuition to get there (yes, these spaces cost around $100k and that is not including the million dollar art collection!)

So what’s a budget-savvy, smart, good design seeking homeowner to do? Before you begin to panic and cancel your Netflix account and vow to only eat soup for a year to save for your #livingroomgoals, we’ve worked some Modsy Magic and created a lovely living room with a price tag of only $6,000.

**You might be thinking, “Six thousand dollars still sounds like a LOT of moolah…” and yes while it is definitely a solid four figures, allow me to explain how we got to that number. Do a quick Google search on “living room budget” and you will find most interior designers calling out 10 big ones as the average “middle tier” for a complete living room overhaul. A lot of other articles claim it’s possible to get the look for $1,000, but the fine print discloses lower quality furniture and impractical DIYs.

We think six thousand dollars is the Goldilocks of living room price tags. Not too hot not too cold, not too expensive and not too poor-quality. Aside from taking a peek at the collection we created, we also polled our stylists for some of their favorite budget-friendly saving styling tips. That’ll do piggy bank. That’ll do.